The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 471

Julian repeated Yves Prescott's words, his voice hollow, like a disembodied spirit. "Tiana's thighs are covered in bruises from Henrietta pinching her? She has a fever? She can't sleep through the night and keeps crying about a 'big monster'?"

"She's only five! She can't even describe most of what's happening to her! You bastard, you let those people torment her right under your nose! Can you imagine how terrified she must have been? Julian, you can just go to hell! Go to hell!"

No one knew if Julian even heard what Winona was saying. They only saw his brow furrowed, his forehead beaded with sweat, and his head trembling uncontrollably.

He slammed his fists on the table, shot to his feet, and stormed out of the VIP lounge. The others scrambled to follow him.

Frank, in his wheelchair, was a bit slower. He called out from behind, "Nona, what in the world is going on?"

Winona looked at Frank, her heart aching. "Mr. Frank, my daughter… Julian’s and my biological daughter… was abused by Felicity’s mother. She kept pinching my daughter’s thighs until they were a mess of bruises…"

"My God…" Frank slammed his hand on the armrest of his wheelchair in a fit of rage. "Send her to prison! She must be sent to prison!"

Winona wanted to say, 'And this is the family you thought had such wonderful character,' but she bit her tongue. After inheriting his vast fortune, she couldn’t very well start complaining about this and that.

She looked at Frank politely. "Mr. Frank, please have your caregiver and lawyer take you to the hospital. Don't let this upset you. You need to live a long, healthy life. Even though Ms. Chase has passed, you still have me. If you’d like, you can join my broken little family. As long as you take care of yourself, you could easily live another thirty years."

Frank looked at her gratefully. "Nona…"

The sight of her in this state sent a spasm of pain through Julian's heart. He remembered two days ago when Tiana had kicked and fought in his arms, and when she couldn't break free, she bit him so hard she'd knocked out her own teeth. How desperate must a child that small be to do that? She'd rather hurt herself than let her own father hold her.

"Tiana…" Julian started to reach for her.

Tiana scrambled behind Winona, her small hands gripping her mother's leg as she whispered timidly, "Mommy, I'm scared."

Winona's heart broke, and she didn't know what to say.

"Tiana, it's Daddy…" Julian called out as gently as he could.